*Founder Principal, Hailey College of Banking & Finance, University of the Punjab, Lahore

Pakistan, Mobile: 0092-333-4363363 Email: kamjadsaeed@yahoo.com – Website:

www.kamjadsaeed.edu.pk Member Governing Council, International Federation of
Accountants (IFAC) (1997-2000), President, South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA)
(1997), President, Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (1997-2000),
President, Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia (AMDISA)
(1993-96), Pro Vice-Chancellor University of the Punjab, Lahore (1994-1996), Founder
Director, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of the Punjab, Lahore

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(1973-1996).

PRELUDE
For business success, several factors from fortune to serious application of management
techniques are described. However, leadership as an engine of growth has emerged as a single
distinct factor for ensuring development, possibly with sustained approach. There are all types
of leaders. But their two categories namely, Transactional Leadership and Transformational
Leadership are well known.
It is generally believed that true and genuine leadership ought to grow from grass root. This
piece shares global experiences on selected basis.
PREREQUISITES
There are five pre-requisites for developing grass root leadership. These are listed below:
• Freedom to think and urge to apply.
• Supportive enabling environment.
• Thrust for innovation.
• Urge to contribute to society.
• Institutionalized arrangement.
Attention needs to be given to ensure full support to positive environment on the lines of
above aspects in the organizational set up.
GLOBAL EXPERIENCES
Some selective experiences in grass root leadership in five continents of the world are shared
below:-
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
The President of Waterloo University of Canada who is Chief Executive of Research in Motion
(RIM) innovated wireless web system in the cell phone. This has been the result of grass root
research which has benefited the users of the cell phones throughout the world.
Another excellent example is from Alberta where a female engineer separated the sand from
oil-creating tremendous job opportunities and scrapping the sand-oil name from Canada to oil
from Canada.
USA
Two brothers developed Google from the grass root research and has provided leadership for
the benefit of society as a whole. Google search enables wealth of information to be tapped.
Dr. Micheal Hammar at 48 years of age introduced re-engineering as a managerial tool in 1993.
He later developed a Hand Book on Re-engineering in 1996. Time Magazine in a special review

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listed his name as one of the top 25 scholars who made great contributions in the synergistic
efforts for development of USA. Across the world, business community has benefited from his
thought and economy, efficiency and effectiveness have been major outcomes benefiting the
world as a whole.
Prof. Dr. Joseph Schumpeter innovated the concept of “technology” as a major factor for
reducing the cost and thereby not only benefiting the systems across the world but also
resulting in entrepreneurial profit.
Muhammad Ali from the grass root rose to the occasion and popularized boxing on global basis.
He is well known as the champion in boxing history. This has provided a great entertainment
to viewers.
Bill Gate, a drop out from Harvard Business School, introduced all types of innovation from
the grass root in Information Technology area and he is currently ranked no. 2 as the richest
person in the world. His contributions have created wealth out of new factor of production
namely, knowledge. The innovation of windows was introduced by him to create efficient
business environment.
AFRICA
There are several examples of grass root leadership in Africa. Several African countries have
grass root leaders. They have served the noble cause of society. The example of Mr. Nelson
Mandela is an outstanding one. However there is an example of SANABEL from Egypt which can
be cited as an institutionalized effort from the grass root to serve the noble cause of micro
credit network. It consists of around 12 countries and the contributions include helping
poverty stricken, dispossessed and under-privileged people During May 2008, they held
regional conference in Tunis on Micro Credit. The network is an outstanding example of an
institutionalized effort at the grass root to address burning problems facing the African region.
EUROPE
RUSSIA
During Yelstine time, it was ordered that grass root efforts should be made to develop leaders
in Tennis of international stature at school level. Talent hunt was undertaken and from this
effort now around 12 international stature players from Russia are on the international grid.
The top three positions in Beijing Olympics held in August 2008 were won by Russian Players.
Dominteva earned the gold medal. Safin earned the silver medal and third medal was also won
by a Russian.
UK
It is generally believed that 90% of the contributions in innovation have emanated from the
grass root. In UK, SMEs have contributed tremendously towards the success of corporate

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sector. Several business schools are developing entrepreneurs and are making contributions for
the socio-economic development.
ASIA
BANGLADESH
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Younas who started Grameen Bank in Bangladesh presents an outstanding
example of grass root leadership in particular in women development and prosperity at grass
root level. Because of his global work, he has also earned nobel peace prize.
CHINA
China, at one time, was an opium eating country. Under the dynamic leadership of Mao, great
changes took place and roots for the grass root leadership were firmed up. Today, China has a
rank of no. 3 in the world of exports. Recently in Beijing Olympics China ranks no. 1 with USA
as runner up with no. 2 position. Looking at the grass root result, the world is talking about
CHINDIA (China and India) as the growing global power house.
INDIA
Grass root leadership has been conspicuous in several areas in India. Information Technology
Today, has earned great respect through her service to 82 countries of the world through BPO
(Business Process Outsourcing) and is foregoing a head with KPO (Knowledge Process
Outsourcing) and EPO (Engineering Process Outsourcing). In cricket, grass root leadership has
developed on international scene in India from all geographical parts namely, East: Kumble,
North: Kapel Dev, West: Gavaskar and Tandulkar, South: Dravid. From the grass root
leadership, India won the World cup in 1983 and T20 World Cup in 2007
JAPAN
Japanese introduced bottom up administrative approach and this has resulted in the
development of various grass root leaders. The above aspect was institutionalized through a
management technique known as KAIZAN (Continuous Improvement).
PAKISTAN
Grass root leadership was developed in the Northern part of Pakistan through Agha Khan Rural
Support Program. The implementation of this resulted in substantial increase of per capita
income of the residents of Northern Area. Grass root leadership was developed from the
establishment of a Second Business School in the history of Pakistan by the writer. Several
examples can be quoted in this respect. However the name of Mr. Agha Ashraf from grass root
can be cited. He obtained his MBA from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan and has put
Pakistan on the map of 32 countries of the world. Several NGOs are developing grass root
leadership in Pakistan. One grand example of an NGO network is Akuwat. In the last few years,
they have developed grass root leadership through 100 Micro enterprises. Pakistan won the
World Cup in cricket in 1992 from players who hailed from grass root.

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SRI LANKA
Several leaders in Sri Lanka were instrumental in paving the way for grass root leadership. In
particular, Premadasa, a former President, played a great role in achieving break through in
literacy and shelter for all towards the end of the 20 th century. In 1996, World Cup in Cricket
was won by her in Lahore.
OCEANIA
Grass root leadership in New Zealand through the dairy products has put them on the map of
the world. The rise of grass root leadership in Australia has attracted a very large number of
students on global basis. In sports-particularly in cricket, grass root leadership in Australia
earned high prominence in the world.
MOTIVATION FROM LEADERS
Lord Budha
He kindled the light in such a manner as resulted in grass root leadership in Sri Lanka, Thailand
and in particular in Taiwan where a book has been written on the theme of corporate
leadership in the light of Lord Budha’s guidance.
Confuscist
He hailed from China. Originally he was a civil servant and became management leader by
introducing the values which he tried to indoctrinate in society resulting in developing big grip
of grass root leaders. His influence continues to dominate in Singapore and in several far
Eastern countries.
Mahatma Ghandi
He introduced way of leadership based on the non-violence approach resulting into leadership
at grass root level.
Allama Iqbal
He advocated change and was the thinker of Pakistan. His inspirational poetry paved the way
for grass root leadership.
Muhammad (PBUH)
His exemplary conduct earned him rank no. 1 in the world and as the last prophet guided the
world as grass root leader.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
He himself exemplified as a grass root leader and became the father of Pakistan.
WAY FORWARD
Challenges of the 21st century are numerous. The history is replete with examples of
supportive approach and enabling environment which have been instrumental in developing
grass root leadership. Institutionalized approaches has enabled the world to share an era of
prosperity, qualitative education, poverty alleviation in developing countries across the world.
All the stakeholders must rise to the occasion and need to meet contemporary Challenges. The
earlier a strategic plan is developed the better. The fruits of grass root prosperity are
numerous and will indeed result in higher standard of living and wide spread prosperity and
happiness across all segments of society.